Guide the Patapon's to Earthend... IT awaits!
Pretty much anyone who's into gaming or owns a PSP has heard of this game. There has never been a game quite like it, it is unique in terms of presentation and gameplay and it succeeds very well in both areas.
The premise of the game is that you are the god of a tribe of small, bipedal, one eyed warriors who wish you to guide them to Earthend in order to find IT so that they may have eternal bliss, peace and safety. This premise works extremely well in the game and I love the god aspect. Because the game is on the PSP, a small portable device, you really get the feeling like you are the god of these little warriors and it is your responsibility and your right to guide these Patapon to Earthend. In between missions, when the Patapon are partying after a hunt or just sitting around they will constantly call you by your chosen name, asking you for help or just praising you for a victory or a successful hunt. The presentation of the game is fantastic feels very well rounded and gives a great overall experience, ensuring you enjoy all of the gameplay and not just the battles.
The gameplay is basically a rhythm game in which you must give your orders in time with the 4 beat drum-beat of battle. You give your orders with godly drums of your own. There are four in total and each is assigned to a different face button. There are a number of commands though you start your first battle with two unlocked, Pata and Pon, which are assigned to Square and Circle respectively. The two commands you start off with are Pata, Pata, Pata, Pon which makes the Patapon move forward and Pon, Pon, Pata, Pon which orders them to attack. You unlock new drums and new orders (like defend) as you progress through the game.
There is a background drumbeat and a border around the screen which also moves along with the beat to help with timing. So when you give an order, the Patapon sing the order (taking a another 4 beats) and then you give another order. If you keep your orders running one after the other the Patapon go into fever mode which increases their speed and combat efficiency. It is more difficult to keep the orders running in this mode with the detection system using a much smaller range for error but it's still possible and obviously the longer you keep it going the better. It can be difficult to beat some bosses if you don't get fever mode before attacking them and then keep Fever mode while attacking them.
Now while the gameplay may sound simple it is also quite deep and tactical. Firstly you can collect items and weapons during battles when you defeat enemies which the Patapon can then use in subsequent battles. You unlock new Patapon souls or types as you progress also... you begin the game with archers and basic infantry but can unlock long-bowmen and cavalry as well. However since you can only use 3 types of Patapon in any battle you must choose your Patapon carefully. For a simple example you shouldn't use infantry men for hunting because they have to get too close to attack and the animals will smell them. Neither can you use Cavalry as the animals hate the smell of horses and flee the entire map if they smell them.
During the lulls between battles you can visit a magic tree, or the chef and use the food that you hunt for to create new items. Also if a Patapon falls in battle and you collect its hat you can revive the soldier afterwards by burying it.
The gameplay can get quite difficult at times and some grinding is required in order to get the experience and equipment needed to beat some of the later bosses. However it is still a great game, challenging, long, new and unique, definitely a must experience if not a must buy. You will never play anything like it and the quality of the presentation alone merits a try.